http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/29/us/smart-phones-crosswalks-hawaii-illegal/index.html
Look left, look right -- but not at your cell phone in Honolulu crosswalks
By Ralph Ellis, CNN
Updated 2243 GMT (0643 HKT) July 29, 2017
Are we addicted to the Internet? 02:02
Story highlights
The city just approved a law making it illegal for pedestrians to "cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device." The law covers video games, pagers and laptops, and the ubiquitous smartphones.
The law goes into effect October 25, giving police time to explain the situation to people who can't take their eyes off that tiny screen in their hands.
The "distracted pedestrian" law is needed because so many people in the city -- especially seniors -- are hit by vehicles in crosswalks, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said at a bill-signing ceremony at one of the city's busiest intersections.
"Sometimes I wish there were laws we did not have to pass, that perhaps common sense would prevail," the mayor said. "But sometimes we lack common sense."
Police will have to actually observe somebody looking at their device to make an arrest. Fines will be $15 to $35 for the first offense, $35 to $75 for the second, and $75 to $99 for the third. It will still be legal to talk on your phone while crossing a street, or to look at your phone on the sidewalk.
Almost every state has a law against texting while driving, but Honolulu appears to be the first major city in the United States to go after pedestrians who use hand-held devices, Caldwell said.
High school safety clubs suggested the idea and did studies on pedestrian safety, said Kel Hirohata, a local high school teacher. He said students foresaw a perfect storm: "What if the person that is driving ... is looking a their phone and the pedestrian crossing the street is also doing the same thing? Anything can happen."
Hirohata said his discussions with other students convinced him the law was needed, not just increased safety education. He said many students asked, "Is this a law? No? Then why should I care?"
Honolulu's concerns may be supported by the Governors Highway Safety Association, which reported pedestrian fatalities increased 11% from the first six months of 2015 to the same period in 2016.
One of the possible reasons: "distraction due to growing use of smartphone technology."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/15/honolulu-plans-fines-looking-mobile-phone-crossing-road/
Honolulu plans fines for looking at a mobile phone while crossing the road
First-time offenders will be hit with a $15 fine Credit: Getty Images
Pedestrians who look at their mobile phones while crossing the road in Honolulu face fines of up to $99 (£76).
The measure to tackle the problems of "distracted walking" will come into force in October.
It will apply to the island of Oahu, which is home to 80 per cent of the state's population.
Most states in the USA ban texting while driving. Honolulu - which has a population of around a million - will be the first to penalise pedestrians who cross the road while staring at their smartphones.
First-time offenders will be hit with a $15 fine, but serial offenders will face far stiffer penalties rising to $99.
Pedestrians will still be allowed to make and receive calls, because it is assumed that they are looking where they are going at the same time.
Although Hawaii is breaking new ground, there is growing concern at the potential dangers of distracted walking.
As far back as 2013, a study appeared in the Journal of Safety Research called "Ambulatory cellphone injuries in the United States: An emerging national concern”.
It noted a rising number of distracted pedestrians being injured - with 1,500 being taken to Accident and Emergency in 2012.
The threat was highlighted at a conference held by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year.
"I sponsored this after it was brought to my attention by local high school safety clubs," Brandon Elefante, a member of Honolulu City Council, told the Telegraph.
"I felt this was a way in which we could address this growing problem of people who don't pay attention while crossing the street.
"There has been some resistance from those who think this is government overreach and whether it is enforceable.
"But we have been working with the police to ensure it is enforceable.
"In the end, you can't put a price on somebody's life, this is a matter of public safety."
https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/24/l...reet-could-now-cost-you-up-to-99-in-honolulu/
Looking at your phone while crossing the street could now cost you up to $99 in Honolulu
Posted 10 hours ago by Greg Kumparak (@grg)
Next Story
Airbnb’s managing director of international business development has also left
Hate it when you see people staring at their phones while crossing the street? You’ll like this, then: it’s about to be banned by a city for the first time.
Honolulu has been working on a bill for a few months now that aims to get people to stop staring at their phones when crossing streets. The bill got its final stamp of approval from the Mayor at the end of July and, as the New York Times points out, will go into effect starting tomorrow.
Specifically, the bill (viewable here) states that “No pedestrian shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device.” They note that “viewing” here means “looking in the direction of the screen” — so walking with your phone up to your ear still seems to be okay.
The exceptions to the whole bill: people calling 911, and the emergency responders who might need to look at a device while running across the street as part of their jobs.
The fine will cost you up to 35 bucks for the first offense, and it’ll scale up to $75 or $99 for your second and third offenses. Now that one city is rolling out the ban, it seems like the sort of thing that’ll spread to other cities before too long.
Look left, look right -- but not at your cell phone in Honolulu crosswalks
By Ralph Ellis, CNN
Updated 2243 GMT (0643 HKT) July 29, 2017
Are we addicted to the Internet? 02:02
Story highlights
- New law goes into effect October 25
- It's designed to reduce pedestrian accidents
The city just approved a law making it illegal for pedestrians to "cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device." The law covers video games, pagers and laptops, and the ubiquitous smartphones.
The law goes into effect October 25, giving police time to explain the situation to people who can't take their eyes off that tiny screen in their hands.
The "distracted pedestrian" law is needed because so many people in the city -- especially seniors -- are hit by vehicles in crosswalks, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said at a bill-signing ceremony at one of the city's busiest intersections.
"Sometimes I wish there were laws we did not have to pass, that perhaps common sense would prevail," the mayor said. "But sometimes we lack common sense."
Police will have to actually observe somebody looking at their device to make an arrest. Fines will be $15 to $35 for the first offense, $35 to $75 for the second, and $75 to $99 for the third. It will still be legal to talk on your phone while crossing a street, or to look at your phone on the sidewalk.
Almost every state has a law against texting while driving, but Honolulu appears to be the first major city in the United States to go after pedestrians who use hand-held devices, Caldwell said.
High school safety clubs suggested the idea and did studies on pedestrian safety, said Kel Hirohata, a local high school teacher. He said students foresaw a perfect storm: "What if the person that is driving ... is looking a their phone and the pedestrian crossing the street is also doing the same thing? Anything can happen."
Hirohata said his discussions with other students convinced him the law was needed, not just increased safety education. He said many students asked, "Is this a law? No? Then why should I care?"
Honolulu's concerns may be supported by the Governors Highway Safety Association, which reported pedestrian fatalities increased 11% from the first six months of 2015 to the same period in 2016.
One of the possible reasons: "distraction due to growing use of smartphone technology."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/15/honolulu-plans-fines-looking-mobile-phone-crossing-road/
Honolulu plans fines for looking at a mobile phone while crossing the road
First-time offenders will be hit with a $15 fine Credit: Getty Images
- David Millward, US Correspondent
Pedestrians who look at their mobile phones while crossing the road in Honolulu face fines of up to $99 (£76).
The measure to tackle the problems of "distracted walking" will come into force in October.
It will apply to the island of Oahu, which is home to 80 per cent of the state's population.
Most states in the USA ban texting while driving. Honolulu - which has a population of around a million - will be the first to penalise pedestrians who cross the road while staring at their smartphones.
First-time offenders will be hit with a $15 fine, but serial offenders will face far stiffer penalties rising to $99.
Pedestrians will still be allowed to make and receive calls, because it is assumed that they are looking where they are going at the same time.
Although Hawaii is breaking new ground, there is growing concern at the potential dangers of distracted walking.
As far back as 2013, a study appeared in the Journal of Safety Research called "Ambulatory cellphone injuries in the United States: An emerging national concern”.
It noted a rising number of distracted pedestrians being injured - with 1,500 being taken to Accident and Emergency in 2012.
The threat was highlighted at a conference held by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year.
"I sponsored this after it was brought to my attention by local high school safety clubs," Brandon Elefante, a member of Honolulu City Council, told the Telegraph.
"I felt this was a way in which we could address this growing problem of people who don't pay attention while crossing the street.
"There has been some resistance from those who think this is government overreach and whether it is enforceable.
"But we have been working with the police to ensure it is enforceable.
"In the end, you can't put a price on somebody's life, this is a matter of public safety."
https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/24/l...reet-could-now-cost-you-up-to-99-in-honolulu/
Looking at your phone while crossing the street could now cost you up to $99 in Honolulu
Posted 10 hours ago by Greg Kumparak (@grg)
Next Story
Airbnb’s managing director of international business development has also left
Hate it when you see people staring at their phones while crossing the street? You’ll like this, then: it’s about to be banned by a city for the first time.
Honolulu has been working on a bill for a few months now that aims to get people to stop staring at their phones when crossing streets. The bill got its final stamp of approval from the Mayor at the end of July and, as the New York Times points out, will go into effect starting tomorrow.
Specifically, the bill (viewable here) states that “No pedestrian shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device.” They note that “viewing” here means “looking in the direction of the screen” — so walking with your phone up to your ear still seems to be okay.
The exceptions to the whole bill: people calling 911, and the emergency responders who might need to look at a device while running across the street as part of their jobs.
The fine will cost you up to 35 bucks for the first offense, and it’ll scale up to $75 or $99 for your second and third offenses. Now that one city is rolling out the ban, it seems like the sort of thing that’ll spread to other cities before too long.
